Bradford earn replay at Reading after stalemate

Bradford drew 0-0 with Reading at Valley Parade in an attritional FA Cup quarter-final.

The quality of the match was severely hampered by the state of the pitch at the Valley Parade. It appeared that a rugby match had only just finished before the match began, meaning that pass completion for both sides dipped below 50% at times.

As a result, both sides attempted a direct approach, but created little. Reading went closest when Pavel Pogrebnyak fired in a shot against the post, and Gary Liddle hit the post for Bradford when nobody got a touch on an inswinging corner.

In the second half, Bradford dominated possession and territory, but still found it hard to create any clear-cut chances. Jon Stead found James Hanson at the near post, but he sent his shot wide at the near post. With five minutes of normal time, Oliver Norwood’s cross hit the bar for a rare Reading chance, but neither side could settle the tie.

28’ - READING CHANCE: A shot! An actual shot! Pogrebnyak receives the ball after it's pulled back from the byline, and he hits a well struck shot to the far corner, but crashes onto the post and away.

36’ - LIDDLE CROSS: The free kick skids of Hanson, and he keeps it in play. He lays the ball back to Liddle, who curls in a fierce cross that misses a few heads, bounces, and finds the far post as Federici dives in vain.

42’ - WILLIAMS SHOT: Williams decides he might as well shoot from 35 yards out, as it's pointless passing his way to goal on this pitch, and although he hits it well, it's a few yards over.

55’ - CHALOBAH TACKLE: Chalobah clatters studs-up into Morais' calf, and is lucky to be neither booked nor sent off. Free kick for Bradford on the left wing.

65’ - KELLY TACKLE: Stephen Kelly comes across to cover for his centre backs as Stead was about to break through on goal. A crucial interception.

75’ - DAVIS HEADER: Morais curls in a cross from a free kick on the right, and Davies connects thunderously with a header which is just over the top corner.

71’ - HANSON MISS: Clarke lifts a ball over the top for Stead, who chases the ball down well and finds Hanson with a first-touch cross, who hooks his shot just wide of the near post.

85’ - NORWOOD CROSS: Reading win a free kick high up the pitch on the left wing. Norwood curls in a ball to the back post and approximately 700 players congregate around the ball, as it hits the post after Pogrebnyak uses his hand to guide the ball, and Akpan takes an air shot to waste the chance.

This is the sixth time in a row that Reading have been drawn away from home in the FA Cup.

Reading have never beaten Bradford in cup competition, losing the one FA Cup match, drawing another, and losing two and drawing four of the League Cup matches they have played.

Reading have only ever made the FA Cup semi final once before, in 1927 when they lost to eventual winners Cardiff City.

This is the fourth clean sheet in 20 FA Cup games for Bradford.

Bradford may have deserved a television showing in previous rounds, but certainly not this time. Shown on free-to-air television for the first time in the FA Cup this season after a couple of upsets, the game here was wretched. The state of the pitch made it impossible for either side to entertain, or even to pass accurately over a few yards.

Chris Gunter (Reading): Given the terrible showing on the pitch, largely because of the pitch more than anything, Gunter deserves the award. He did not get off the subs’ bench, and as a result did not contribute to one of the worst televised games in memory.

Bradford City: Williams 5, Darby 5, McArdle 5, Davies 5, Meredith 5, Liddle 6, Morais 6, Knott 5, Clarke 5, Hanson 5, Stead 5. Subs: Zoko 6, Yeates 6, Halliday 6.

Reading: Federici 6, Kelly 5, Obita 5, Pearce 5, Hector 6, Chalobah 6, Norwood 6, Williams 5, Robson-Kanu 5, Mackie 5, Pogrebnyak 6. Subs: Akpan 6, McCleary 6, Yakubu 6.